THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060628
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 81 lines
Amid thousands of purple and teal balloons, pictures of Rhinos and a thunderous ovation from 500 political and business leaders, George Shinn called upon Hampton Roads to purchase 10,000 season tickets for his proposed NHL expansion team by Dec. 12.
Speaking on election day, Shinn gave an impassioned, 30-minute plea for support to community leaders at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, urging them to reserve season tickets with deposits of $100 apiece and luxury suites for $10,000 each.
``If we sell 10,000 season tickets, then it's going to be very difficult for the NHL to turn us down,'' said Shinn, who owns the NBA's Charlotte Hornets and has applied for an NHL expansion franchise for Hampton Roads.
``The biggest question is: Can we accomplish this goal? The answer is: Absolutely yes, yes, yes, we can accomplish that goal.''
The NHL's board of governors is expected to decide at its Dec. 12-13 meetings in Phoenix which of nine expansion candidates will receive franchises.
The team began taking ticket orders at its temporary office at 232 East Main Street in downtown Norfolk Tuesday afternoon. Shinn said he was told by NHL officials that Hampton Roads is the only expansion candidate to have begun a season-ticket drive.
``I spoke with (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman yesterday and told him what we were going to do, and he said, `Good for you,' '' Shinn said. ``He said they had recommended that to a couple of other communities and they had decided not to do it.
``A successful season-ticket sale will give us a leg up on the others.''
Shinn also announced:
He has decided that downtown Norfolk ``is the best place for the arena,'' but still did not rule out a site at CBN in Virginia Beach. Shinn said he prefers a site between Scope and the MacArthur Center over a site adjacent to Harbor Park.
Shinn said he liked downtown because fans are accustomed to seeing the Admirals and Tides play downtown, and that Norfolk is the natural center for Hampton Roads.
He has not made a decision as to what city name to use. Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Virginia and Tidewater are under consideration.
``I want to do what's best for me, this team and this community,'' Shinn said. ``I assure you I'll get the best advice I can, including local advice. I don't want to do anything that will divide this community. We want to pull the community together.''
Tom Ward, vice president of marketing for the Hornets, is overseeing the ticket sale and will run the Rhinos if the NHL grants a franchise to Hampton Roads. Ward, a James Madison University graduate, has been with the Hornets since their inception and came to Charlotte from the Washington Bullets.
``This isn't going to be absentee ownership,'' Ward said. ``I would move up here with my family. I will be up here'' most of the rest of the fall and winter.
Shinn said he decided to have a season-ticket sale because of his success of a similar sale in Charlotte, where he sold 15,000 season tickets.
``We were told that we did not have a major league city,'' he said. ``But I believed Charlotte could support a major league team and that it would be a tremendous asset to the entire community.
``We doggedly pursued it and . . . launched a season-ticket sale that nobody else did that helped us reach our goal. We're hoping for the same result here.''
During his six-hour stay Tuesday, Shinn was shuttled to half a dozen meetings with business and community leaders by Hampton Roads Partnership president Barry DuVal. He met with the partnership's executive committee, then gave his speech at the Marriott. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
MOTOYA NAKAMURA
The Virginian-Pilot
George Shinn is bullish on the Rhinos' chances. "...We can
accomplish that goal," he said.
MOTOYA NAKAMURA
The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim backs the Rhinos with his contribution to
the season ticket drive that kicked off Tuesday.
Rhinos season tickets can be purchased at 232 Main St. in Norfolk or
by calling 664-6655. by CNB